Origin
Manhattan, NY
Evening in Manhattan on Sunday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
37m
Distance
17.7 mi
28 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manhattan, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Gravesend, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Navigating the 15.7-mile journey from Manhattan to Gravesend is a quick trip that typically takes about 31 minutes. You will primarily utilize local corridors like 5th Avenue and East 79th Street before transitioning to the FDR Drive South. Since this route is entirely within the Northeast region of New York, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at just $2, it is a very budget-friendly way to cross the boroughs. Given the lack of planned stops, you should view this as a direct transit rather than a sightseeing excursion. It is a straightforward drive for anyone looking to reach their destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8.8 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention from start to finish. Because this route features zero highway miles, you will spend the entire 31 minutes navigating city streets and urban arteries. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the nature of the roads requires frequent adjustments and constant awareness of traffic flow. The transition from the dense grid of Manhattan to the character of the FDR Drive creates a shifting environment behind the wheel. Prepare for a technical experience that prioritizes maneuvering through metropolitan infrastructure over high-speed cruising.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near East 79th Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 17.7 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (East 79th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 miles (NY 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto East 79th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto NY 27 toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto NY 27 Truck toward NY 27 East TRUCK: 10th Avenue, 11th Avenue, Jewish Children's Museum, Brooklyn Children's Museum
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto NY 27 Truck / 10th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Between Manhattan, NY and Gravesend, NY, road signs point toward Fdr Drive South, Brooklyn, Jewish Children's Museum and Brooklyn Children's Museum.
Fdr Drive South
Brooklyn
Jewish Children's Museum
Brooklyn Children's Museum
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| FDR Drive | 7 mi | 13m |
| McDonald Avenue | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| East 79th Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| NY 27 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Gowanus Expressway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Avenue U | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 86th Street Transverse | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Ocean Parkway | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Gravesend, NY.
Start on 86th Street Transverse
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
Turn left onto East 79th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto FDR
Take the exit
Continue on I 278
Take the exit onto NY 27
Take the exit onto NY 27 Truck
Turn right onto NY 27 Truck
Turn left onto NY 27 Truck
Turn left onto Avenue U
Turn right onto Ocean Parkway
Continue on Ocean Parkway
Arrive at destination
Since this is a short, 15.7-mile transit, you have the flexibility to depart whenever your schedule allows. However, keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can be tiring, so ensure you are well-rested before navigating through the city. You will not need to plan for fuel stops given the low $2 cost, allowing you to head straight to your destination. My best advice for this specific route is to stay alert at every intersection, as the constant turns require you to be decisive with your navigation. Because the drive is under 40 minutes, you can easily build your day around your arrival time without needing to factor in significant breaks.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17.7 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.8 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gravesend, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Manhattan, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manhattan, NY
This is one driving day of about 17.7 miles and 37m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.8 mi from Manhattan, NY · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 17.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 8.8 miles from Manhattan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Gravesend, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Gravesend, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.88 one way
$5.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $3.12 | $6.25 |
| premium | $4.88 | $3.40 | $6.81 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.93 | $7.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.86 | $0.85 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.55 | $0.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Manhattan on Sunday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Gravesend on Sunday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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